MUSCAT: According to the data issued by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the number of international tourists visiting GCC countries reached 75.7 million in 2025, marking a 4.9 percent increase compared with 2024, while tourist movements between GCC countries totalled 20.1 million, up 3.6 percent year-on-year.
The number of hotel establishments across the region also increased by 4.8 percent to 12,400 in 2025, reflecting the expansion of accommodation capacity and the sector’s ability to cater to growing tourism demand.
The figures were released in the centre’s weekly bulletin, titled Gulf Tourism in the Era of Smart Transformation, which highlighted the growing role of digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and online government services in strengthening the competitiveness of the region’s tourism sector.
Tourism continues to play an important role in the GCC’s economic diversification efforts, supporting a broad range of industries, including aviation, transportation, hospitality, retail, entertainment and other services. The sector also contributes to investment, job creation and the expansion of non-oil economic activities.
The bulletin highlighted the role of digital readiness in shaping the future of Gulf tourism, with indicators pointing to progress in emerging technologies, mobile application development and government online services.
In the 2025 Emerging Technologies Adoption Index, GCC countries scored between 34 and 99 points, with three countries ranking among the top 20 globally.
In the 2025 Mobile Application Development Index, scores across the region ranged from 60 to 77 points, reflecting the digital foundations available to develop tourism applications and improve visitors’ access to information and services before, during and after their trips.
Meanwhile, GCC countries scored between 56 and 99 points in the 2025 Government Online Services Index, with three countries ranking among the top 25 globally.
The centre highlighted the importance of digital government services in simplifying travel-related procedures, accommodation arrangements and access to tourism activities, while improving service efficiency for visitors.
The report noted that digital transformation is becoming increasingly important to the competitiveness of Gulf tourism, particularly through the use of data, artificial intelligence and digital applications to understand visitor preferences, forecast demand and deliver more personalised services.
These technologies can also support better destination management, improve resource efficiency and strengthen sustainability while enhancing visitor satisfaction.
The bulletin further emphasised the importance of greater digital integration among GCC countries, including the development of joint platforms linking bookings, transportation, events and tourism information.
Such initiatives could provide visitors with a more seamless regional travel experience, encourage intra-GCC tourism and improve access to the region’s diverse natural, cultural, heritage and entertainment attractions.